Ready ... aim ... point ... talk

Handgun used as laser pointer by state official reportedly rattles foreign delegates

James M. Odato

Updated 10:23 pm, Monday, January 6, 2014

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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Jerome Hauer, New York State commissioner of The Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services addresses members of the media at the Capitol on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012 in Albany, NY, as members of the administration gave an update on the recovery efforts following Hurricane Irene a year ago. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

Jerome Hauer, New York State commissioner of The Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services addresses members of the media at the Capitol on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012 in Albany, NY, as members of the ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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Jerome Hauer, Director of the NYS Div of Homeland Security and Emergency Services speaks during a cabinet meeting held Jan 3, 2013 by Governor Andrew Cuomo at the State Capitol in Albany, N.Y. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union) less

Jerome Hauer, Director of the NYS Div of Homeland Security and Emergency Services speaks during a cabinet meeting held Jan 3, 2013 by Governor Andrew Cuomo at the State Capitol in Albany, N.Y. (Skip ... more

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

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Jerome M. Hauer, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's director of homeland security, took out his handgun and used the laser sighting device attached to the barrel as a pointer in a presentation to a foreign delegation, according to public officials. It happened Oct. 24 in Albany at the highly secure state emergency operations center below State Police headquarters.

These officials, one of whom claimed to be an eyewitness, said that three Swedish emergency managers in the delegation were rattled when the gun's laser tracked across one of their heads before Hauer found the map of New York, at which he wanted to point.

Hauer, commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, was disabled by a stroke a few years ago and can be unsteady. He isn't a law enforcement official. He carries the loaded 9-millimeter Glock in a holster into state buildings, an apparent violation of state law barring state employees from bringing weapons to the workplace, several witnesses say.

The incident with the Swedish delegation occurred during a two-hour briefing at the operations center concerning the state's response to Superstorm Sandy, according to one of the officials.

Asked about the matter over the course of several weeks, Cuomo's press aide promised to look into it but has repeatedly had no comment. Hauer's communications officer, Peter Cutler, also promised to look into it, but he has declined to respond beyond saying he is unaware that it happened. "I've heard rumors," Cutler said.

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No one, including Hauer, has denied the episode happened. Approached by the Times Union at the Capitol after a meeting with Cuomo, Hauer was asked if he had used his gun as a pointer in a presentation. "You have bad sources," he said, but would not take follow-up questions.

According to one person who witnessed the scene in the conference room, which has mid-wall-to-ceiling windows so that people can see into the meeting space, two people opposite Hauer at the table moved quickly out of the line of the laser when he brought out the gun.

What happened that day? "Your guess is as good as mine," said Cutler, whose desk at the homeland security office at the Harriman Campus is a short walk down the hall to Hauer's. "I don't have any information on that."

Cutler said he would check to see if a Swedish delegation met with his boss on Oct. 24, but did not share whatever information he gathered.

Cutler also said he had no information about Hauer being under consideration for a job as a liaison between New York state government and the new administration of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"I don't even know if he carries a weapon," Cutler said about his boss, who has drivers who also wear guns. Asked in the past why he carries a handgun, Hauer suggested that a reporter look him up in a Google search.

Cutler said Hauer is licensed to carry a gun in Albany and in New York City. The press officer said he isn't sure if his boss is authorized to carry one into state offices, however. He suggested a reporter contact the Office of General Services and the State Police to see if Hauer received some sort of carve-out from the Public Facilities Law, which prohibits employees from entering state buildings with weapons. Press officers from the two offices did not have information on Friday about whether Hauer has permission to bear arms at work.